Again: Chileans Offend Bush

newsmax ^ | 11-21-04

[LouAvul]

Hours after President Bush dove into a fracas to rescue his lead Secret Service agent from a confrontation with Chilean security officials, word surfaced of another security dispute. This time, an elaborate state dinner Sunday night was the casualty.

The dinner planned for Bush and 200 others by Chilean President Ricardo Lagos was reportedly scrapped after Chile was unwilling to accept security measures sought by the U.S. Secret Service, including a demand that all guests pass through metal detectors.

Leading Chilean newspaper El Mercurio reported that the disagreement led Bush and Lagos to instead hold a small "social dinner" with a handful of aides from each side.

On Saturday night, Chilean security barred Bush's bodyguards from accompanying the president into a dinner for Asia-Pacific leaders. As a pushing and shoving match ensued, Bush strode over to the melee, reached into the group and pulled mustachioed agent Nick Trotta out by the lapel and into the dinner.

Trotta has been taking good-natured ribbing for having to be rescued by the man he's charged with protecting.

[Tacis]

Well, the Cubans murdered Chlean President Allende and tried to make it look like we did it. I guess they could do the same to Lagos and try to make it look like we did it, as well.

There is only one thing to do, "UNLEASH PINOCHET!!"

[finnigan2]

The arrangements, especially security, which have surrounded Presidential visits abroad have long rankled local host countries. There are several reasons for this. First the high handed attitude of the security service who view themselves as the creme de la creme of security service operations and who have come to demonstrate and tell the local rubes how it should be done. Secondly, the advance party for these visits is on a size, scale and level of detail not seen since D-Day. Huge 747's loaded with equipment, armored cars and telecommunication gadgets arrive days before the visit is scheduled to start and the staff coming with this arrival of extravagant back up demand and expect instant cooperation from local authorities to their every request. Finally, the secret service insists on packing heat to every venue even though in many cases the laws of the country being visited do not allow it.
The Secret Service has, in many respects, grown to develop an attitude and culture somewhat akin to the State Dept and the CIA. After all, who would dare deny them any resource that they request if they frame it in terms of being essential to protect the life of the President?
This "arrogance" can lead to active antagonism with local security forces if not diplomatically handled.
I guess in Chile, it wasn't.

[DoughtyOne]

As previously stated, the FTAA is merely a stepping stone to an American Union. You don't have to buy into that. I don't really care.

The FTAA will itself give other nations through it's governing body, the ability to affect everything from tax policies to employment practices to health and safety issues.

Yes our Congress does have to sign off on this. Unfortunately, it has shown it's proclivity to parcel away self-governance on a number of occassions.

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you for the post.

[xone]

'Cudos to the shrub...'

How very DU of you, BTW it's Kudos dolt.

[BARLF]

Adds a whole new meaning to "Don't Mess With Texas".

[clamper1797]

Ok - I'll put my tin foil hat on. But attempts to interfere with security arrangements for the President worry me and make me deeply suspicious.

Then I would have to wear that tin foil too. Some thing's not right in Chile and I'll be glad when W's back on American soil

[Caipirabob]

Chilean leftists are unacquainted with testosterone, and far less with "Tex-tosterone".

[GreenHornet]

Some thing's not right in Chile and I'll be glad when W's back on American soil

I agree. They seem to be going out of their way to interfere with the President's security, and expose him to possible harm.

[hosepipe]

[ How very DU of you, BTW it's Kudos dolt. ]

your Barney Fifeness,, I like Cudos..
Never been to "DU", ...... YOU?....

Well thats your one bullet.. MISSED.. NYAH...

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

However, one can have all the guns in the world, yet if one lacks the will to use them?????

[ThanhPhero]

If the Chileans wouldn't allow a metal detector to be put in place, they must not be concerned over security.

Or maybe they are concerned and there is a reason they don'e like the security measures.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Ok - I'll put my tin foil hat on. But attempts to interfere with security arrangements for the President worry me and make me deeply suspicious.

Maybe it' s a case of mass paranoia, but I like your mentality.

[xone]

DB.

[delacoert]

Mr. President, come home. If these third-worlders are willing to put you at risk, forget about 'em.

Not only that, but let's cancel foreign aid, eliminate debt reduction measures and call in outstanding loans. If our leaders aren't good enough for them, then niether should be our money.

[Thumper1960]

Have no illusions of any 'lack of will'.

To use any and all means necessary to maintain that which was bought with blood and sacrifice is to honor those who came before.

[Repub Bub]

PING!

[Miss Behave]

"Mr. President, come home. If these third-worlders are willing to put you at risk, forget about 'em."

Hear, hear. I love My President. To H with them.